Round 1: Bottled Water vs. Water Filters
Bottled water’s greatest benefits are mobility and convenience. You can take it with you and drink anywhere. The cap is sealable, so you don’t have to worry about spilling, and the bottle is durable enough to withstand falling or being crushed by the other items in your bag. You can also buy bottled water nearly anywhere. This makes it more convenient than other solutions, like drinking from a water fountain, where sanitation is questionable.
A little less convenient, 5-gallon jugs of water for cooler systems are a popular option for many people. They can be purchased at hardware and grocery stores, or in some instances people rely on a delivery service. They are cumbersome, however, and take up a lot of space, but they are practical for supplying large volumes of water.
Convenience isn’t just for bottled water or water jugs, however. Water filters can be purchased to filter all the water in your home or just the water coming from your kitchen or bathroom sinks–and you’ll have immediate access to it. Many under sink filtration systems are compact, so you’re not wasting valuable storage space.
Round 2: Which Option Is Cheaper?
It’s time to up the ante in the matchup between bottled water versus water filters with a look at cost considerations, and how either choice impacts your wallet.
If you want to go the extra mile in protecting you and your family from contaminants and drinking water of questionable quality, you’re going to need to make an investment. Bottled water seems relatively cheap, but over time, the cost adds up. Can the same be said about water filters? Let’s find out.
How Much Does It Cost to Drink Bottled Water?
It’s a no-brainer that buying bottled water in bulk (35-48 bottle/pack) is much cheaper than going to the local convenience store to purchase a single bottle of water for $1.99 or more.
Where can you buy bottled water in bulk? Giant box stores are one option. However, businesses like Sam’s Club and Costco require a membership fee that starts at $50 or more per year.
At the time of publishing, the top-rated water bottle item at Sam’s Club lists a 40-pack of 16.9-ounce bottles of Ice Mountain for $6.54. That’s about 16 cents a bottle, which seems cheap, right? But how long will that 40-pack last?
If you are in a home which uses and drinks a total of one gallon of bottled water per day you will go through about 7.5 bottles of water each day, meaning a 40-pack will last less than six days. Perhaps you use a little less than that and a case can last a full week. If so, you will pay roughly $340 per year on bottled water, and that’s if you buy only the value-priced 40-pack cases from Sam’s Club or Costco.
How Much Will a Water Filter Cost Me?
While the cost of drinking bottled water progresses incrementally, a water filter is going to be more expensive upfront. In many cases, a Water Pro can install a simple-yet-effective filtration system under the sink. The overall price varies, based on which type of system you need, whether it’s for under the sink or for the whole home, and potential plumbing costs, but keep in mind this is a one-time investment. Plus, the filters last up to 6 months in most filtration systems before needing replacement.
If you’re using a gallon of water per day, consider how this reflects in your water bill. According to the EPA, if your home’s water bill is set at a uniform rate structure, the average charge is $0.00295 per gallon. Using a gallon of water per day from your home’s tap will cost you roughly $1.08 per year, plus the cost of the filtration system and periodic filter changes.
When you combine the small increase in your water bill, the cost of the system and one filter replacement the first year, you’ll soon start to notice a return on your investment. Your savings will really take off in the second year when all you’re doing is replacing the filter at regular intervals.